bookofjoe

Where to live in the U.S. to avoid a natural disaster

On April 30, 2011, the New York Times featured a superb graphic (above) illustrating the risks of a combination of weather disasters and earthquakes in 379 American metro areas.

Below,

the Times' description of how the maps were generated.

Flashing Earphones

"LEDs light up and blink."

So what're you waiting for?

$16.

............................

Note added at 3:21 p.m. today in response to a question Flautist raised in her 3:10 p.m. comment, to wit.: "If you had a way to put the light down in the ear, would beems shoot out through the eyes?"

Long answer short: yes — as any fool can plainly see in the exclusive-to-boj photo just above.

 

It happened here

Closer.

For the longest time I've dreamed of an app that would register your GPS location and then match it to a database of events and things of interest at that spot.

You'd drive somewhere and have a robotic companion speaking in a natural voice in real time, describing what's of note in the area as you pass through.

Not if but when; I'm thinking within three years, as pieces of the puzzle — real-time GPS, apps like the one featured here, computing power, and speech-capable phones and computers — fall into place.

$2.99.

[via J.D. Biersdorfer and the New York Times]

Bird Bag Clip

 

Set of six: $7.

MorphWorld: Jenna Wolfe into Soledad O'Brien

When I saw Ms. Wolfe on yesterday's Kentucky Derby pre-race show, I thought to myself, "What's Soledad O'Brien doing on NBC — isn't she with CNN?"

And it's not just their looks: NBC's Ms. Wolfe (above), 37, has a voice that's a dead ringer for that of the 44-year-old Ms. O'Brien (below) —

both could cut glass.

FunFacts: Ms. Wolfe was born in Kingston, Jamaica; Mr. O'Brien is the child of immigrants from Cuba and Australia.

Spy Mirror Wall Clock

12" Ø.

$47.31.

My most anticipated book: Memoirs of John "Captain Crunch" Draper

You could look it up.

From his website: "Work is underway on the screenplay and musical score of a movie following my story from the early days of phone phreaking and arpanet hacking, through the years of my creations and contributions to the computer revolution."

"Singing In The Rain" Shower Curtain

$13.49.